Our Kotaku genre guide series continues this month, appropriately enough, with the resource collecting, unit constructing, zerg rushing battles of real-time strategy, in The Kotaku Genre Guide to the RTS.

We've done role-playing games, and we've done first-person shooters. Now it's time for something a little meatier. The RTS demands a sharp, strategic mind, nimble fingers, and an understanding of the units at your disposal deeper than any real-life general has had for the men under his command. You juggle resources, scout terrain, and hope to hell that when you meet your enemy, you've got the upper hand, metallic appendage, mandible, et cetera.

In case you needed a quick primer on the who's who and what's what of the role-playing…
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One thing to bear in mind as you peruse the guide is this is all about real-time strategy; not real-time tactics, so if you're looking for your Total Wars, Kingdoms Under Fire, or your Worlds in Conflict, you won't find them here. Don't worry; we'll get to them eventually. For now, the RTS.